Kottayam, November 6: Clashes started after protesting devotees targetted media persons at Sabarimala Temple on Tuesday morning, resulting in a photojournalist reportedly getting injured. According to an ANI report, Amrita TV cameraman Biju has been injured during protests at Sabarimala Temple over the entry of a woman devotee. Protestors suspected the woman to be below the age of 50, and hence believed that she violated the ban on the entry of women between the age of 10 to 50 years. However, cops later clarified that the woman was 52-years, and had come to visit the temple, along with her son. She offered her prayers to the shrine, under police protection later. Sabarimala Doors Reopened, Posting of Women Cops Above 50-Years of Age at Temple Complex Raises Eyebrows.

After three weeks, the doors to Ayyappa temple opened Monday for the second time for a two-day special puja on November 5 and November 6. The temple doors opened at 5 PM on Monday and will be shut at 10 PM. It will open again on Tuesday for the “Sree Chitira Atta Thirunal” puja to mark the birth anniversary of the last king of the princely state of Travancore Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma. Sabarimala Temple Doors Opened Again, Devotees Climb Sacred Pathinettam Padi to Offer Prayers; Security Upped.

On Monday, for the first time in history, 15 women cops were deployed in Sabarimala Temple premises on Monday as the temple reopened doors for all its devotees. All the women cops, deployed at the ‘Sannidhanam’ (temple complex), also offered prayers while they were on their duty. It must be noted that all the 15 lady policemen were of the age 50 and above, which is in compliance with the temple's ban on women of a menstrual age or between 10 and 50 years.

Earlier on October 17, the doors of Sabarimala had opened for six days for the first time since the Supreme Court allowed women of menstruating age to enter the shrine, but none could make it to its hallowed precincts amid a welter of protests and violent clashes.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 06, 2018 08:58 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).